Going to try to explain this the best I can. When I do a snake, the fire spreads along the bottom of all of the coals… then it spreads up. Which results in a progressively hotter and hotter temp.
As opposed to 2 briquettes burning and slowly heating up the next 2 and so on.
What’s the issue?
by MerkoniumJones
14 Comments
Same thing happens with me, I always do a 2×2 to get longest burn and best results.
I would think that you need to lean them more to where they are starting the next one as it’s getting to the end. If that makes any sense. I think they are to straight up and down and are catching the other on fire to soon. All the bottoms shouldn’t be touching only tops and bottoms should be over lapped
I use 2 on bottom and 2 on top to cook at 325, start at the end of the snake
I use a pyramid. 2×1. I barely adjust my grill vents. Gets dialed in every time. I think my grill is in a perfect position with wind too though. Very consistent
Close down the bottom vent more
More on top
I usually keep the bottom barely open and the top around 1/2. Wind can affect it but once it is settled in I can run 250 all day. You will get it.
I get this all the time. Well, to be more precise – the fire starts at the stack, and burns up & down the briquettes. I guess my temp is regulated by the vents.
I do witness my grill probe getting progressively hotter, but thats because the fire is getting closer as the cook progresses. I keep my hood vent diametrically opposite from the fire.
My hood temp reads 305, my grill probe reads ~240. I gauge everything off the hood temp knowing all other temps are in range.
I stack a 2×1 snake, start it, and let the hood temp settle to 300. I put my meat on, forget life, have a beer, mow the lawn, goto church, other necessary things from a couple of weeks ago. Did I mention having a beer and relaxing? But, the bottom run of my 2×1 always speeds ahead, but my temp is ‘A OK’.
I hate setting up snakes, get a charcoal basket. Amazon has the OnlyFire basket for $39.99. Just takes 3 seconds to dump in charcoal.
2×2 Kingsford blue with the top vent all the way open, bottom vent just a sliver open. I rotate the hood so the vent is opposite the head of the snake. The type and brand of charcoal will make all the difference. A 2×1 with Kingsford blue burnt way too low and quicker the last smoke I did.
Close the bottom vent most of the way and be patient. Allow the coals to light and come up to temp. It’ll eventually stabilize at a consistent heat.
Too much air.
The more you close the bottom vent, the less air you let in, will slow down how fast the coals burn and give lower temps. Yours looks fully open, hence your snake is burning through quickly.
Close up that bottom vent more to slow things down. May take a bit of practice to find the sweet spot.
I did a practice fire on mine just to get used to adjusting the vents and used a digital thermometer to check the air temp to see what was happening. Now i can confidently set the bottom vent where it needs to be each time.
Snake is an okay method and a good place to start. You will come to realise that its also not required once you get the hang of things.
I just put a coal basket to one side and top up with 4-5 coals every few hours.
Sorry, I am lost.
I am Australian and thought you had a snake problem….
That’s not a snake problem.
I always start the snake at the end the briquettes are leaning towards. Also a little tighter snake would help and with one row laying flat on top.